Attachment for straight-knitting machines.



RJE. SCHLETTER. ATTACHMENT FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED IAN.6. I914.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

5 SHEE TSSHEET I.

A TTURXE).

R. E. SCHLETTER.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JAN-6, 1914.

1 1 98,482 Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2- lV/TNESSES- IVVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

R. E. SCHLETTER. ATTACHMENT FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-6,1914. I 1,1 98,482. I Patented Sept. 19,1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET'3.

IVITNESSES: LVVENTOR.

' 52% [e fer g BY 9 zmdyq wh A TTOANEY.

R. E. SCHLETTER.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRAIGHT KNITTlNG MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JAN-6, 1914.

1,198,482. PatentedSept.19,1916.

5 SHEETSSHEET 4- W1TNSSES I LVVENTOR. fi fiztiarillsci ZeZZez" A A I BY A T T (JR/VIZ Y.

R. E. SCHLETTER.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.6, 1914.

1,198,482. Patented Sept. 19,1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- IVITIVESSES: ITVVEIVTOR. g fizardlf jaZzZZer BY I A TTORNEY.

RICHARD ERNST SCHLETTEB, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ATTACHMENT FOB STRAIGHT-KNITTING MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1916.

Application filed January 6, 1914. Serial No. 810,660.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,' RICHARD ERNST SCi-ILETTER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Attachment for Straight-Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention broadly stated relates to straight-bar knitting machines and has more particular relation to an attachment therefor for plotting or fashioning a reinforce portion for the heels of stockings.

The principal object of the present invention may be said to reside in the providing of a simple, efiicient and comparatively inexpensive mechanism adapted for attachment to an ordinary straight-bar knitting machine without change of construction or operation of the machine parts whereby a neat and eflicient reinforce may be plotted or fashioned for the heel portion of stockings.

Other and further objects of the present invention reside in the providing of general details of construction and arrangement and operation of parts as will hereinafter more fully appear.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which:

Figure 1, is a View in rear elevation illustrating the attachment of the invention in application to so much of a straight-bar knitting machine as is necessary to an understanding of the invention, Fig. 2, is a view in section taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, is a fragmentary view in front elevation of the upper portion of Fig. 2, Fig. 4, is a view in section taken upon the line 44 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 5, is a fragmentary view in plan of the left-hand side of Fig. 1, Fig. 6, isa fragmentary view, in rear elevation, of a slightly modified form of the invention, Fig. 7, is an 'end view thereof, partly sectioned, and Figs. 8 and 9, are views in side and end elevation respectively of astocking equipped with the reinforce as plotted by the attachment embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated a physical embodiment of the invention constructed in accordance with the mode best known to me at this time for practising the invention. Obviously,'various details of construction and arrangement of parts may be altered without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the specific embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive of the drawings, 10, designates the frame of a straight-bar lmitting machine of any suitable design. 11, designates the main driving shaft thereof, 12, the vertically reciprocating needle bar, 13, the sinker head and its. sinkers, including complemental bits and 14, the horizontally disposed reciprocating carrier bar and its thread carriers 14*. These parts are of ordinary and well known construction and form no part of the present invention. The attachment of the invention is designed for application to the.

center division of a knitting machine and is adapted to regulate, in each division, the formation of stocking heel-reinforcement.

Rotatably supported between brackets 15, carried by a suitable part 16, of the frame of the knitting machine and in the path of travel of the carrier bar 14, is a plotting, pattern or fashioning cylinder 17 ,see Figs. 3 and 4. This cylinder is located immediately above the carrier bar 14, which bar is provided with stops, hereinafter referred to, which in abutting against the cylinder limit the bar movement. The cylinder 17 is provided with a concentric covering 18, circu'mferentially provided with teeth 19, a blank tooth 20, however being present, see Figs. 3 and 4, for a purpose to be presently described. The covering 18, is so cut away that upon each side thereof its edges are notched as at 21, in a step-like manner for a purpose to be presently described. In other words commencing at a point adjacent the blank tooth 20, the surface of the covering gradually increases in width throughout the circumference of the cylinder.

A description will now be given of the mechanism for operating the cylinder 17 Carried by the frame work 10, of the knitting machine is a bracket or support 22, fulcrumed to which as at 23, is a lever 24, one end of which lever carries a roller 25, and theopposite end of which lever has connection with the short arm of a bell-crank lever 26, as by means of a rod 27 the bell-crank lever 26, having fixed relation with a rock shaft 28. The long arm of the bell crank lever 26', has pivoted thereto a spring impelled 11.

shaft 11. Journaled to the bracket 32,

pawl 29, for pawling the cylinder 17. A cam 31, fixed to the main driving shaft 11, is adapted to cooperatively engage-the roller 25, of the lever 24, to effect the pawling of the cylinder 17. A coiled spring 30, is interposed between the rock-shaft 28, and the free end of the lever 24, for insuring the return of the rock-shaft and its complemental parts to normal position. In order to permit of the proper pawling'of the cylinder 17, other mechanismis present, a description of which will now be given. Secured to the frame 10, of the knitting machine is a bracket 32, see Fig. 5, fulcrumed to which as at 33, is a lever 34, one end of which lever is connected to the frame 10, by means of a coiled spring 34, and the other end of which lever is provided with a roller 35. The roller 35, is adapted to be cooperatively engaged by a cam 36, fixed to the main driving at right angles to the fulcrum point 33, of the lever 34, is a ratchet wheel 37, see Fig. 5, and on the same journal carrying the ratchet wheel is a sprocket wheel 38. Having pivotal connection as at 40, with the bracket 32,

is a lever 41, pivoted to which is a pawl 42,

, for pawling the ratchet wheel 37 The lever cam 36, operates the lever 34 vertically or 34, and the lever 41, are so arranged at an angle with respect to one another that as the up and down, the lever 41, together with its nism about to'be described. 'Fulcrumed as at 47 to a suitable part of the knitting machine is a lever 48, one endof which is provided with adepending lug or projection 49, and the opposite end of which connects, as by means of a rod 50, with a crank 51, fixed .to a second rock-shaft 52. This rockshaft 52, has fixed thereto, an upwardly extending rod 53, the upper end of which is adapted to co-act with the pawl 29, to raise the same at predetermined intervals, and to permit the pawl to be returned to operative position. It may be here stated that the spacing of the projections or buttons 46, upon the sprocket chain 39, determines the operation of the rod 53, and the lifting of its complemental pawl 29. Thus as a button 46, elevates the lug or projection 49, of the fulcrumed lever48, said lever through the instrumentality of the rock-shaft 52, causes the .free end. of the rod 53, to recede from the pawl 29, to permit the same to pawl in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, the cylinder 17 Obviously, as a button 46, leaves the lug or projection 49, of the lever 48, the part 49, drops between adjacent buttons thereby causing the free end of the rod 53, to abut against the underside of the pawl 29, see Fig. '4, and raise the same from the- -teeth 19, of the cylinder 17, until another button 46, operates the rod 53 atthe proper time whereby said pawl through the operation of the lever 24, connection 27 rockshaft 28, andbell-crank lever 26, engages another tooth of the cylinder 17, and so on. It will be understood in this connection that the cams 31, and 36, arearranged and timed to cooperate with the described parts so as to properly accomplish desired results. The-i covering 18, of the cylinder 17, is shaped and proportioned marginally considered as described to coiiperate with rods 54, adjustably fixed to the carrier bar 14. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, these rods or stops 54, are arranged upon the carrier bar 14, so that in its reciprocation back and forth first one rod or stop and then the'other abuts against the notched side walls of the covering 18, of the cylinder 17. Thus as the cylinder 17, is

pawled, the reciprocating movement of the carrier bar 14, is gradually lengthened as the stops 54, in a step by ste manner abut against the gradually decreasing contour of covering side walls in one revolution of the cylinder 17. This lengthening of the stroke of the carrienbar 14, determines the shape or configuration of the reinforced portion 55, of a stocking 56, see Figs. 8 and 9, because the thread carriers co-act with a gradually increasing number of'needles.

In manufacture, the stocking 56, is of the full fashioned type, the web of which has selvage edges. Before the point designated web is knit in a well understood manner.

When the point designated a, is reached, the

carrier bar which has the thread carriers thereon, for supplying reinforcing thread to the needles, which knit the selvage edged web is thrown into action by well understood mechanism. This is so that the reinforce thread may be knit in successive courses, to cause the inner ends of the courses of the heel reinforcement to define a symmetrically curved, but zig-zag-like line,

which taken as a whole is inclined to the wales and courses of the web. From the point a, to the point b b, varying'numbers of needles are supplied with thread to form a heel-reinforce inwardly from the selvage edges. During the knitting above described the pawl 29, has been idly engaging the blank tooth 20. The operator with the heel reinforce carriers in operation now manually moves the cylinder 17,s o that the pawl engages the tooth adjacent the widest portion of the covering 18. As the cylinder 17 is pawled the narrower portions of the covering 18, are advanced until finally in one complete revolution of the cylinder and by a step by step movement, the widest part b?) of the reinforce has been knit, as of course has been the part 0, of the stocking. The heel reinforce thread carrier bar is then stopped and pawl 29, now again moves over the blank tooth 20, so that the cylinder 17, remains idle. The foot portion of the stocking is now formed in the well under stood method of stocking manufacture and the stocking bottom and stocking back sewn 'up. If desired, the lever 24, may be entirely removed from contact with its complemental cam 31, by causing the hooked portion of its complemental hand-piece 57, to engage a suitable support 58. The pawl 29, then remains idle. Y I

In the modified form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, and 7, of the drawings, a simplified construction is disclosed. The fashioning cylinder, pawling mechanism and the sprocket chain and its operating mechanism are of the same construction'as hereinbefore described although the posi tion of the latter is changed. The mechanism for lifting the pawl 29, free of the teeth of the fashioning cylinder 17 however, is much simplified. As shown in said figures, the mechanism for causing the pawl 29, to be lifted is arranged directly below the heel reinforce fashioning cylinder 17, see Fig. 6. Having fulcrumed relation as at 67, with the bracket 32, which carries the sprocket wheel 38, is a lever 68. The underside of the lever 68, is providedwith a lug or projection 59, which lies in the path of travel of the buttons 46, of the sprocket chain 39, so that as a button 46, contacts with the lug or projection 59, the free end. of the lever 68, is raised, a spring 60, being present to return the lever to place when a button 46, leaves the projection 59, of the lever 68. Arranged above the fashioning cylinder 17, in. any appropriate manner is a pulley61, and connecting with the pawl 29, and the'free end of the lever 68, is a flexible connection 62. Thus, as the free end of the lever 68, is elevated, the pawl 29, is caused to engage the toothed periphery of the fashioning cylinder 17, and as the free end of the lever 68, is drawn to normal position by the spring 60, the pawl 29, is lifted free of the toothed periphery of said cylinder. Otherwise, the construction and operation of parts are similar in all respects to the machine hereinbefore described.

The reinforce 55, fashioned in accordance with either of the above described attachments is of generally tapered, symmetrical contour and may be extended to a considerable height at the back of a stocking without being conspicuous which is obviously advantageous.

coverlng being provided with a centraltoothed portion and a stepped formation at each end thereof, said stop mechanism operatively disposed in the path of travel of the carrier bar having the reinforce thread carrier thereon for increasing'the stroke of saidv carrier bar to fashion a heel reinforce, the ends of the courses of which define a line inclined to the wales and courses of the stocking web, pawling means for continuously driving said stop mechanism and independent means under control of the pattern chain for limiting said driving means.

2. In a straight bar knitting machine, knitting mechanism, oppositely disposed carrier bars equipped with thread carriers, a pattern chain, a stop member embracing a cylinder having a concentric covering operatively mounted between the opposed ends of said bars the opposite side walls of said covering each having means formed therein of a continuous step-like contour to afford lengthened step by step strokes of said carrier bars, means for continuously driving said stop member, and means under control of the pattern chain for limiting said driving means.

3. In a straight bar knitting machine, knitting mechanism, oppositely disposed carrier bars equipped with thread carriers, a pattern chain, a pattern drum provided with a concentric covering operatively mounted between the opposed ends of said carrier bars, the opposite side walls of which covering each have formed thereon a continuous series of notches of step-like formation to afford lengthened step by step strokes of said carrier bars, means for continuously driving said drum, and means under control of the pattern chain for limiting said driving means.

4. In a straight bar knitting machine, knitting mechanism, oppositely disposed carrier bars equipped with thread carriers, a pattern chain, a pattern drum provided with a concentric covering, rotatably mounted between the opposite ends of said carrier bars, said covering having a toothed periphery and notched side walls of step formation, which notched portions determine the length of strokes of said bars, pawling means for continuously driving said drum and independent means under control of the pattern chain for limiting said driving means.

5. In a straight knitting machine, knitting mechanism including a complemental carrier bar and thread carriers, a stocking heel reinforce fashioning cylinder provided with a concentric covering having a toothed periphery, said cylinder being rotatably mounted in the path of travel of they carrier bar and so designed that in its rotation, the stroke of the carrier bar is lengthened in a step by step movement, a pattern chain, pawling mechanism for operating the cylinder and means under control of the pattern chain for limiting the pawling mechanism.

6. In a straight knitting machine, knitting mechanism including a complemental carrier bar and thread carriers, a stocking heel reinforce fashioning cylinder provided with a concentric covering, having a toothed periphery, said cylinder being mounted for intermittent movement in the path of travel toothed periphery,

of the carrier bar and so designed that in its rotation, the stroke of the carrier bar is lengthened in a step by step manner, cam

actuated pawling mechanism operatively the stroke of the carrier bar is lengthened step by step, cam actuated pawling mechanism for operatively engaging the toothed periphery of the cylinder covering, a tiltable lever, an operatively mounted chain provided with projections for successively engaging said lever to tilt it, cam actuated mechanism for operating the chain and 'means operatively disposed between the free end of said lever and the pawl of the pawling mechanism for limiting said pawling mechanism.

8.. A pattern drum'of the class stated embracing a cylindrical member adapted for rotation, and a concentric covering there-for, the opposite side walls thereof each having formedthereon means of, step-like contour and the peripheral face thereof beingtoothed intermediate the pair of said step formations,

9. A pattern drum of the class stated embracing a cylindrical member adapted for rotation and a concentric covering therefor, the opposite side Walls thereof each having formed thereon means of continuous steplike contour and the peripheral face thereof being continuously toothed intermediate the pair of step formations upon said side wall.

10. A pattern drum of the class stated em bracing a cylindrical member capable of being rotated, and a concentric covering therefor, the opposite side walls thereof each having formed thereon a continuous series of notches of step formation and the periph eral face thereof having a continuous series of teeth thereon disposed intermediate said notched sides, one of said teeth being a blank tooth.

11. In a straight bar knitting machine,-

knitting mechanism, operatively disposed carrier bars equipped with thread carriers, a pattern chain, stop mechanism embracing a unitary structure operative for rotative movement, said structure beingequipped with a covering having a stepped formation at each end thereof to afford lengthened step by step strokes of the carrier bars, means cooperatively disposed with respect to said unitary structure for continuously driving the same and means under control'of the pattern chain for limiting said driving means. 0

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two Witnesses.

RICHARD ERNST SCHLETTER.

Witnesses:

' VVILLIAM J. JACKSON, AGNES E. CAsKEY. 

